Whether you're a veteran Slayer or new to the series, here's our breakdown of every Doom game ranked, from worst to best.
It’s difficult (if not impossible) to understand the evolution of the first-person shooter (FPS) genre without having played the original Doom games. Their stunning level design and gun-based gameplay, brought to life by extraordinary technology and a spectacular soundtrack, transformed the medium forever. Even today, many developers continue to honour that Doom legacy, such as Auroch Digital’s Warhammer 40K: Boltgun.
For the sake of simplicity and brevity, this ranked list of Doom games focuses strictly on the mainline releases in the Doom franchise (we'll still have to wait a while until prequel Doom: The Dark Ages can grace this list). Though honorable mentions must be made of the many, many user-made mods and notable re-releases that have come along over the decades.
“But isn’t Doom kind of a dark fantasy series, with demons and all?” Well, technically yes. However, in all continuities, the main character, the Doom Slayer (aka Doomguy), finds himself on Mars after demons break into our dimension due to experiments gone wrong. The story gradually got more complicated, and the reboot installments are much more packed with world-building, but the point is: Doom is a sci-fi video game series set in the future that just so happens to also feature demons and fantasy elements.
Doom is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the best space games and popular FPS video game series. If you like shooting aliens and bad guys to collect loot and save the universe, be sure to check out our ranking lists for the Borderlands, Halo, Half-Life, and Alien franchises.
6. Destiny 3
- Platforms: PC, Linux, macOS, PS3/4, Xbox/360/One, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Identification software
Doom 3 isn't a bad game by any means. In fact, it could be considered one of the best shooters of the 2000s due to its advanced (at the time) graphics, precise gunplay, and genuinely creepy atmosphere. The problem is that (and it still remains the case) Doom wasn't meant to be scary despite its darker elements and all the gore; in other game series with similar premises, you're scared of demons and monstrosities, but in Doom it's the other way around.
At first glance, Doom 3 looks and plays like a classic Doom game. While the rebooted story (which is also set on Mars in the future) plays it safe, the overall atmosphere, pacing, and focus of its mechanics outside of shooting made it more of a modern space horror FPS that happens to be a Doom game rather than an actual continuation of Doom 1 and 2.
5. Perdition 64
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo 64/Switch
- Developer: Midway Studios, Night Diving Studios
Doom 64 is a curious release in that it was stuck as a Nintendo 64 exclusive from 1997 until 2020. That's when Nightdive Studios released a remastered port alongside Bethesda Softworks. Now, we finally have easy (and legal) access to the game. TRUE Destiny 3.
Of course, id Software didn't develop this installment, but Midway Games has done a remarkable job with what it's been given. In many ways, Doom 64 offers improvements over its two predecessors, from more advanced graphics to new weapons. The story isn't a rehash either, and it's presented as a logical sequel to the events of Doom 1 and 2. If you've never played it before, give it a try.
4. Double Indemnity (2016)
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Identification software
The 2016 Doom reboot, once again handled by id Software, accomplished almost everything it set out to do: it looked spectacular, ran smoothly, played great, and expanded on the vibes and level design of the original two games. This was the kind of “return to the original roots” that many franchises had been trying to achieve with poor results. In the meantime, id Software took its time to evaluate What Doom Really Was and went out fighting.
It's true that Doom (2016) loses some steam towards the end, as the chaotic battle arenas become more intense and less creative. However, it offered much more than just intense shooting and gory deaths; it was also a spectacular take on the “metroidvania” level structures and progression that the Metroid Prime series had already explored in the FPS space.
3. Eternal destiny
- Platforms: PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Identification software
Doom Eternal altered much of the general flow of the usual combat encounters and level design, resulting in a more frenetic and unforgiving experience. Not all Doom fans liked this, but its bold energy coupled with id Software's “let's try not to repeat past successes without some extra oomph” approach should be applauded.
Eternal is a direct sequel to Doom (2016), so you shouldn't skip it (why would you?), but it immediately raises the stakes to a whole new level. The player is given plenty of new toys and abilities that make each level a joy to beat… if you can absorb all the information and hellfire that will rain down on you.
2. Doom II
- Platforms: PC, Linux, iOS, macOS, Android, Sega Saturn, Tapwave Zodiac, PS1/3/4, Xbox/360/One, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Identification software
Sorry, but the original two Doom games remain the best of the best in the FPS space. The real question is, of these two, which one was truly the best on its own? Sure, Doom II heavily fostered the development of amazing mods for decades (and continues to do so), but is the “core” experience better than its predecessor?
In this case, we're going to say no. Yes, Doom II is a fantastic game, one of the best ever made, but if you play the first two games back-to-back, it's easy to notice the shortcomings of Doom II's level design, especially in the latter half. As great as everything else is, some of Doom II's later levels feel a bit too random in their design and flow, and can even become frustrating before the quality picks up.
1. The perdition
- Platforms: PC, Linux, iOS, macOS, Android, Sega Saturn, PS1/3/4, Xbox 360/One, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Switch
- Developer: Identification software
And the top spot goes to… Doom. The classic, the original, the granddaddy of all first-person shooters. This game is absolutely iconic and memorable, despite the basic graphics and almost non-existent narrative. Everything fell into place perfectly and it remains a hit.
The problem with the original Doom is that the FPS genre has come incredibly far since its initial release. Sure, by today's standards it may not be all that important to younger gamers, but even if you take off the nostalgia glasses, its brilliance is there for all to see (provided you can stomach the game design and graphical limitations of the 90s). It was a leap of faith that redefined an entire medium, not just the FPS genre, and on a purely visceral level, it simply feel It's good to play from start to finish, even now.